tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742756814967464811.post2220233733007664212..comments2024-03-29T06:40:49.882+11:00Comments on Green Gourmet Giraffe: Apricot History and a ChutneyJohanna GGGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08594201473931487490noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742756814967464811.post-64131839948630498412015-12-23T12:05:33.551+11:002015-12-23T12:05:33.551+11:00To ALL you preservers, you cannot "sterilize&...To ALL you preservers, you cannot "sterilize" a jar in boiling water, the best you can do (usually) is sanitize them, i.e. destroy viable microorganisms, it will not destroy all spores. If want to sterilize the jars, place the open jar mouth down on a baking tray, place the tray in the oven and bring the heat up to 150 to 160C, hold it at that temperature for 60 minutes, turn the oven off but leave the jars in there, when cool enough to handle remove the tray and fill the jars. The lids can be treated with Nappisan or dilute White King for 10 minutes then rinsed in boiled water to remove the chlorine. The jars will be sterile (no living organisms or spores. This is important for fruit or vegetables, such as green beans and peas, unless you add vinegar, that are not acidic or do not contain high levels of sugar. Tomatoes have a low pH (i.e. they are acidic). These precautions will limit the chance of Botulism poisoning.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742756814967464811.post-72836803788676917452013-01-16T19:39:05.666+11:002013-01-16T19:39:05.666+11:00I used your recipe to make chutney a couple of wee...I used your recipe to make chutney a couple of weeks ago. It is delicious and my family liked it too, I've forwarded them a link. Next time I make it I'll follow the recipe and finely chop the onion rather than have big chunks. Thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742756814967464811.post-52732306931391893832011-12-10T17:33:27.518+11:002011-12-10T17:33:27.518+11:00Love the post. I have just picked my 10th bucket o...Love the post. I have just picked my 10th bucket of apricots from my backyard tree. The relatives, friends & neighbours all beneficaries of the fruit.<br />So glad I found this recipe as another source of use.<br />PaulPaulnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742756814967464811.post-60016444453935014792009-07-13T17:03:05.179+10:002009-07-13T17:03:05.179+10:00Hi Kim - you are so lucky to have lots of apricots...Hi Kim - you are so lucky to have lots of apricots to make into chutney - the mixed spice is like pumpkin spice I think - mine is cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg - hope you enjoy the chutneyJohanna GGGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08594201473931487490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742756814967464811.post-40160160766944959552009-07-13T14:36:16.697+10:002009-07-13T14:36:16.697+10:00Woule love to try the chutney. My neighbor's ...Woule love to try the chutney. My neighbor's tree is hanging heavily over into my yard, and FULL of beautiful but fairly bland apricots. One question - here in the US we don't have anything called "mixed spice". Do you know what else it might be called?<br />Kim in CaliforniaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742756814967464811.post-69626038304345625652009-02-04T09:37:00.000+11:002009-02-04T09:37:00.000+11:00Thanks Lysy - fruit trees in grandparents' backyar...Thanks Lysy - fruit trees in grandparents' backyard are wonderful - we also had a cherry plum tree at home which brings back similar memories<BR/><BR/>Thanks Marija - it was lots of fun!Johanna GGGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08594201473931487490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742756814967464811.post-6071648611384966432009-02-03T04:19:00.000+11:002009-02-03T04:19:00.000+11:00Thank you for sending this amazing article for the...Thank you for sending this amazing article for the WHB! You really did some great research work!Marijahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12417934270510794219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742756814967464811.post-67941461916907421532009-01-31T20:36:00.000+11:002009-01-31T20:36:00.000+11:00Lovely pictures and a great history lesson! I like...Lovely pictures and a great history lesson! I liked the anecdote about the tanks in particular :) I have similar happy memories of a greengage tree in my grandparents' garden, but I love apricots too. Your chutney sounds nice and fresh - perhaps the higher vinegar content keeps it firmly enough in the 'savoury' part of your brain?!Lysyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13415024852684873909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742756814967464811.post-16283542213769238592009-01-31T18:43:00.000+11:002009-01-31T18:43:00.000+11:00Thanks Jeanne - how kind of you to send an award m...Thanks Jeanne - how kind of you to send an award my way - I am with you on apricot jam being a favourite - if only fresh apricots were as reliable these days!<BR/><BR/>Thanks Katie - fruit chutneys are so good, aren't they!<BR/><BR/>Thanks Astra Libra - glad you enjoyed it - lucky you having fresh figs - something I have rarely tasted!<BR/><BR/>Thanks Kiran - food history fascinates me - like you, these days I eat a lot more dried apricots than fresh but writing about fresh apricots makes me think I should try and find more good fresh apricots!Johanna GGGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08594201473931487490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742756814967464811.post-29123774675649701482009-01-31T11:25:00.000+11:002009-01-31T11:25:00.000+11:00A great write up on apricots, I remember them bein...A great write up on apricots, I remember them being a lot more tastier as well. Although I have to say I have eaten them dry more than fresh. Isn't it amazing how history works and the associations we have with food. It looks like a great chutney :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742756814967464811.post-59596973262402139132009-01-30T22:51:00.000+11:002009-01-30T22:51:00.000+11:00Your apricot chutney sounds incredible! I definite...Your apricot chutney sounds incredible! I definitely like your idea of reducing the sugar - your version sounds perfect!<BR/><BR/>What a fascinating history - thank you so much for the wealth of information! I have a much deeper appreciation for apricots now! I can only imagine how wonderful they must taste right off the tree... Mmmm... Wow... Figs are that way for me - my uncle's fig trees have forever rendered me unable to eat store bought figs... :-pAstra Librishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17875529379234934319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742756814967464811.post-56374874218943351262009-01-30T18:36:00.000+11:002009-01-30T18:36:00.000+11:00Looks delicious - I love fruity chutneys. Interest...Looks delicious - I love fruity chutneys. Interesting history.Katiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05008246307753272616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742756814967464811.post-26093330546788314052009-01-30T05:09:00.000+11:002009-01-30T05:09:00.000+11:00What a fascinating post! I have always love apric...What a fascinating post! I have always love apricots, both dried and fresh but I agree - I'm sure they tasted better when I was a child. Here in London they are often spongy and tasteless :( The only jam in our house most of the time was apricot jam and it's still my favourite. Your chutney looks divine - and the same pourable consistency as South Africa's favourite Mrs Ball's chutney :)<BR/><BR/>BTW I have nominated you for a little award on my blog:<BR/><BR/>http://www.cooksister.com/2009/01/some-reminders-some-news-and-your-recipes-needed.htmlJeannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12325204219395014329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742756814967464811.post-88001101213689698562009-01-29T21:56:00.000+11:002009-01-29T21:56:00.000+11:00Thanks Tanna - apricot pie is such a treat - wish ...Thanks Tanna - apricot pie is such a treat - wish I had tasted yours!<BR/><BR/>Thanks Rachel - I hope your apricot tree produces the goods (takes a few years I think) as fresh from the tree is really best<BR/><BR/>Thanks Ricki - fresh is indeed best - and all the more precious because good ones are hard to come by! The story about American soldiers makes you wonder if there are lots of tinned apricots about for them to avoid???Johanna GGGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08594201473931487490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742756814967464811.post-62780817600152068532009-01-29T04:35:00.000+11:002009-01-29T04:35:00.000+11:00There really is nothing like a fresh apricot (the ...There really is nothing like a fresh apricot (the good old ones, that is);). Thanks for all the interesting history and jokes! I well remember that 1970s classic dish as well. And love the tidbit about the American soldiers! Funny how chance events can shape our ideas.<BR/><BR/>The chutney looks lovely!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742756814967464811.post-74979723364316149982009-01-28T21:35:00.000+11:002009-01-28T21:35:00.000+11:00Fascinating history, thanks :) When I was a young ...Fascinating history, thanks :) When I was a young child I found it hard to believe that dried apricots and fresh ones were really related because the taste is so different. I bought an apricot tree last year but no fruit yet.Rachel Cotterillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08969719330048416996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742756814967464811.post-43405710685555121832009-01-28T21:12:00.000+11:002009-01-28T21:12:00.000+11:00I still remember a spectacular fresh apricot pie I...I still remember a spectacular fresh apricot pie I made before I was married. Best pie ever. And I have no idea what the recipe was. I've never been able to duplicate it.<BR/>Great history on the apricot. They are gold in my book.MyKitchenInHalfCupshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07321041059604871286noreply@blogger.com